Doctor won't give me Propranolol

[bernieaa]

Not sure why as Google says it's ok. 22 weeks pregnant and having panic attacks

How is this thread helping OP.

I get it’s something to fight with, to focus on but it’s not actually going to resolve the potential panic attack you think you can feel coming on.

Put the propranolol to one side. This thread can’t resolve that.

What would help you to relax?
What can your partner or family do?
What other strategies do you have?

The irony in this statement!

Why on earth did you post OP? Seriously?

Did you truly believe we were all going to tell you to just go ahead and take it?

No wonder you feel like you’re going to have a panic attack….you are
coming across as very angry and obsessed about the matter and I’m not sure what answers you are looking for from us?

Either listen to your GP or don’t - take it or don’t. It’s your choice whether to listen to him or not. Stop looking for medical guidance off random mumsnetters.

I took bisoprolol during my second pregnancy due to arrhythmia (no hypertension). Decision for me to continue to take it was made by a cardiologist who said it was a case of weighing risks v benefits. I was warned it may affect baby’s growth and I think it did, DS was a lb lighter than DD (and late). He was fine but just on the cusp of needing special care. I was monitored more frequently during that pregnancy and under consultant care.

I wouldn’t take propanalol against GP advice, I’ve suffered with panic attacks and I know how awful they are but I’d really urge you to get a second opinion from another doctor who knows your medical history.

@MrsGalloway - same for me. And only through a cardiologist x

I think my post made pretty clear BMI alongside pregnancy: "Your BMI alongside your pregnancy may be the additional risk that your doctor is considering when declining your taking of them." While BMI in isolation wouldn't prevent you being prescribed, given the potential side effects of possible weight gain combined with the fact you are pregnant and having extra scans due to your BMI may be driving your doctors decision.

However, the crux of my message is that ultimately you need to find out from a medical expert the reasons why you have been told for your situation not to take them.

Yes all medications have adverse side effects or possible effects, it doesn’t mean that everyone will experience them.
some GPs say no to cover their backs as they are not obstetricians, so therefore would not want to take the risk to harm your baby.

But if you do decide to take the current prescription you have, it’ll be your own risk.

1 in 1000 pregnancies cause a cardiomyopathy for the mother. That's without taking any drugs.

And just when did you last have an echo? Or even an ECG?

Cardiomyopathies kill people. They often have no symptoms. Have you ever heard of a footballer dropping dead on a football field? That's usually hypertrophc cardiomyopathy.

Ecg was a week ago.

B blocker affect sugar levels. Diabetes of pregnancy increased risk and hypoglycaemia and fetal bradycardia as crosses placental barrier.
We use labetalol a b blocker for high blood pressure in preganancy but only because the high blood pressure is more risk than the sugar/fetal affects.

Setraline via consultant also not tested but used for MH in pregnancy as deemed the safest.

Ask to see mental health team via your midwife

My cardiologist only prescribed me the 20mg per week once I had had a full screen of tests including echo, ecg and monitor and the results had been assessed. I had over 700 ectopic beats in 24 hours. He also advised that if I could manage without it I should.

Thanks. As per previous posts my gp has contacted perinatal

I stopped taking it for my pregnancy and whilst I was breastfeeding- so had a 3 year break. There’s other things you can have instead.

Do you know what they ate?

It's entirely your decision but think about the risk, these drugs have never been properly scientifically tested on pregnant women so the risks are largely unknown. How will you feel if they do cause damage to your unborn baby? Will you be able to cope with the repercussions? Can you honestly say your mental health won't be negatively affected if you find yourself sitting in a paediatric ward whilst your child is struggling due to an unnecessary risk you took, one you were advised against, whilst pregnant.

I was on Bisoprolol.

My cardiologist had put me on this drug from the start as they knew me and my husband were planning to start a family and they said Propanolol was not advised in pregnancy.

I had been on the drug for irregular heart rhythms but when I got pregnant, although Bisoprolol was considered one of the safer beta blockers, I was still strongly advised to come off it if my symptoms allowed - and so I did.

When I was 20 weeks pregnant my arrhythmias started to flare up again and so I was restarted on a very small dose of Bisoprolol once a day. I had previously had episodes of SVT and the prevention of having that happen again outweighed the potential risks associated with a very small dose of Bisoprolol.

However, when I had the baby he was very sleepy for about 48 hours and kept dropping his blood sugars and requiring intervention for this. He wasn’t waking for feeds or staying away long enough to finish them and he needed very close monitoring. We were kept in hospital for almost 5 days to overcome these problems.

I didn’t take another dose of Bisoprolol after my son was born as I was breast feeding, and this again was on my cardiologist’s advice.

All decisions around my beta blocker use during pregnancy and breastfeeding came from my Cardiology Consultant and my Obstetrician (I was under Consultant Care) and certainly not from my GP. It’s way outside their remit to give the “ok” to taking beta blockers during pregnancy.

I breast fed my son for 2.5 years and I didn’t take any beta blockers during that time (again on the advice of my cardiology team) even thought I was still having the odd arrhythmia.

With my second son I didn’t take any beta blockers at all when I was pregnant because I didn’t want the same complications happening to that baby that had happened with my first.

But they know the risks. They are documented.....

@MyTruthIsOut thanks. I'm not sure if I would be experiencing the same issues as I would be taking occasionally and I don't have an existing heart issue. Will be interesting to see if the perinatal are able to advise.

@bernieaa how much do you normally take per week?

OP, I had to take beta blockers in pregnancy due to high blood pressure- they were necessary and prescribed and risks were balanced. DD still ended up in NICU after birth because she was made I'll by exposure and withdrawal. I hated myself for doing that to her even though we would have both been in dander if I hadnt. Listen to your doctor. There are other options for dealing with panic attacks

I was told in early pregnancy by my doctor that it has not been tested on pregnant women, but it should still be OK. So I continued to take them until I spoke to a midwife at my 12-week scan. This then made everyone at the hospital concerned. I had to have a scan every 4 weeks to check for growth from 20 weeks. Everything was fine in the end but it was very stressful. I personally think you made it this far you should try and keep going.

Did you take every day? And from conception?

I haven't taken them for eight months since I had a job interview lol.

I rarely take them..... if I wasn't pregnant I would be taking them now because I don't usually experience a panic attack.

Propranolol is to be taken as and when you need it, for instance people that get very anxious speaking in public may take it before they need to do a speech. I'm assuming OP takes it when she feels a panic attack coming on. It helps with the physical symptoms such as a racing heart and shaking.

I surprised it works that quickly for some people, it takes a good hour for it to kick in for me so I take it way in advance of the thing Im doing when I need them